Blow Dart Assault Investigation Update

PRESS RELEASE

Blow Dart Assault Investigation Update

PULLMAN – The Pullman Police Department arrested Tacoma resident Joseph B. Gillies, 18 years of age for Assault III in connection with his involvement in the Blow Dart Assaults which occurred in Pullman.

On Sunday January 12th, 2014 Pullman Police received a report from a 20 year old female resident that she was shot with a dart while standing on the sidewalk of Colorado and Monroe. The assault occurred at about 9:30 PM and the dart penetrated two layers of clothing and stuck into her stomach by about ½ an inch. The victim pulled the dart out and police and the ambulance were called. No medical treatment was required. The dart was similar to the type shot out of a blow dart gun.

Surveillance video showed a possible suspect vehicle driving by at the time of the assault, but the quality of the video was limited for identification purposes.

On Tuesday January 14th, Pullman Police received a second report of a male being stuck with a blow dart while walking on Bishop Blvd. near Klemgard. That dart impacted in his back about ½ inch deep and matched the dart on the first assault. This assault took place near the same time (Sunday at 9:30 pm) as the first reported attack.

Detectives learned that Ellensburg had three similar blow dart assault cases occur on Sunday January 12th. Surveillance video of the suspect vehicle in their case was a higher quality than the Pullman video. We posted both suspect vehicle pictures on the Pullman PD “Can you ID me?” web page.

A citizen with information called in and provided some leads. Detectives conducted several interviews and identified an out of town suspect. Detectives, working with Ellensburg PD met the suspect in Ellensburg today and an arrest was made.